User:Rpriv2000

rpriv2000 is an alias for me, Russ Hamer and I am a 60-odd year old resident of Old Dalby near Melton Mowbray. I was born and educated in Derby and am presently retiring from a flooring retail business there. I have sung in male voice choirs, mixed choirs, played in rock and soul bands, country and reggae bands,, play piano and guitar, enjoy cooking, my family, careful punctuation and the countryside. My wife and I walk a lot, got to as many concerts as we could in pre Covid days, but spend a lot of time just working to stay above water.

As I retire from flooring supply I want to spend more time helping communities with projects. I am not a counselor but people tend to listen to me and I try hard, when asked, to follow through, and help, when problems arise. When I am fully retired I might just want to have a stab at changing a few things. Having said that my own PC is pretty damn good!

For years I devoted quite a lot of time and energy helping organise the Cotgrave Festival and hoped one day this would be a successful annual event attracting people from wide and far. It did, for a while, and I was also involved with Old Dalby Day which was a monster event. Both these events are now in the past but I hope, one day, to see people mixing together without fear. My most wonderful and enjoyable moments have been from creating, organising, promoting or just being involved in social events, be they music based or otherwise.

I am vehemently against the gradual destruction of the UK's Green Belt. I suppose my city upbringing has led to me wanting to protect that which once gone is lost forever. During my activist time we helped save a large section of countryside near Cotgrave but were not be able to slow the gradual destruction of the wild life on Cotgrave Country Park when a housing estate was built on the nearby disused pit head.

I update this user profile in December 2021 and state that I am determined to create a memorial for the colliery at Cotgrave despite the retirement of Harry Burrows who chaired the group that spearheaded this project.

I really enjoy photography and am still finding a level. . I can't believe that something I have been doing all my life could prove so challenging. Photos also at ♫ Russ Hamer on Flickr.

After all that my love is of music. I like listening and I like making it. Just a few years ago Ian Wilmot re-introduced me to Progressive Rock. Three Night of the Prog festivals later I am convinced. Check thedoorwaymusic.com to embark on your next musical journey.

Favorite Influences
Voltaire, yep, really Frank Zappa , Michael Moorcock , Debussy, Terry Pratchett, Mahler, Greenday, Bruckner, Winston Churchill, H G Wells, Paul Simon, Kurt Vonnegutt, Charles Dickens, Clint Eastwood, Steven King, damn it. Neal Morse Ian Wilmot Jack Richards... my History Teacher Murial Turvey... my piano Teacher Wallace Ross... my Choir Master at Derby Cathedral.

Favorite Sayings
There ain't no such thing as a free lunch. It's "Someone Else's Problem".

SANDBOX WILLOUGHBY ON THE WOLDS

Willoughby on the Wolds is a small village in Nottinghamshire, England, on the border with Leicestershire. Its nearest neighbouring villages are Wysall, Widmerpool, Wymeswold and Keyworth, with the nearest towns and cities being Loughborough, Melton Mowbray, Nottingham and Leicester. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 484.

History
GENUKI The history of the village is linked to the Willoughby family of Nottinghamshire and they take their name from this place. Descended from Ralph Bugge, (pronounced Bouge as in Boug'et, "a charge representing a leather vessel for carrying water; - also called water bouget", a wealth wool merchant of Nottingham. The family coat of arms bears three water bougets. During the 13th century Ralph accumulated land there and the family adopted the name "de Willoughby. In the 14th century the family took Woolaton as their seat as they were linked in marriage to an heiress of that estate, then, the next century adopted the title of the Middleton family, (Middleton near Tamworth)in similar circumstances. Thomas Willoughby (11 June 1694 – 2 December 1742) brother of Francis Willoughby 2nd baron of Middleton married the heiress of Birdsall ..

Today
The town has its own Willoughby on the Wolds Parish Council but comes within jurisdiction of the Nottinghamshire County Council.

The village is the approximate location of the minor civil war battle of Willoughby Field which took place in July 1648. It is also closely linked with the Roman encampment of Vernometum on the Fosse way which runs only a few hundred yards from the village.